"Ain't they a handsome pair, Na-che?" asked Jonas, softly. "Ain't he a
grand looking man?"
Na-che assented. "I wish I could get each of 'em to wear a love ring.
I could get two the best medicine man in the desert country made."
"Where are they?" demanded Jonas eagerly.
"Up near Bright Angel."
"You get 'em and I'll pay for 'em," urged Jonas.
"We can't buy 'em! They got to be taken."
"Well, how come you to think I couldn't take 'em, woman? You show me
where they are. I'll do the rest."
"All right," said Na-che. "Diana, don't you feel tired?"
"Tired enough to go to bed, anyway," replied Diana. "It's going to be
a very cold night. Be sure that you and the Judge have plenty of
blankets, Jonas. Good night!" and she disappeared into the tent.
The night was stinging cold. Ice formed on the rain pools and they ate
breakfast with numbed hands. As usual, however, the mercury began to
climb with the sun and when at mid-morning, they entered a huge purple
depression in the desert, coats were peeled and gloves discarded.
The depression was an ancient lava bed, deep with lavender dust that
rose chokingly about them. There was a heavy wind that increased as
they rode deeper into the great bowl and this, with the swirling sand,
made the noon meal an unpleasant duty.
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